With a string of games
postponed for rain, the team
looks to finish the season
strong.

Carlie Giarmo

Men’s lacrosse | 8

| 8

Reporter Brian Kalchik
interviews the senior softball
standout.

Americans rally after a week of tragic loss in
Boston and Texas
By Laura Farrell
News Editor
Senator John Kerry put it best when
he said, “In the past few days, we’ve
seen the best and we’ve seen the worst
in human behavior.” Starting with the
Boston Marathon on Monday morning,
this past week began like any other
week. Four hours into the popular race
in downtown Boston, however, it only
took twelve seconds to let the nation
know this week would not be like any
other.
At approximately 2:50 p.m. on
Monday afternoon, a bomb exploded
near the finish line. A second bomb
exploded seconds later about one
hundred yards down Boylston Street.
These bombs, reportedly created in
pressure cookers, contains high amounts
of shrapnel, hoping for mass causalities.
Chaos ensued as spectators, runners
and volunteers were critically injured
and confused. Over 180 people were
wounded and taken to area hospitals.
Three people died from injuries
sustained by the blasts.
Rumors and speculations were
flying as Boston police and the FBI
quickly dealt with a large and complex
crime scene.
Immediately after the attack,
volunteers, medics, and civilians rushed
to the aide of the injured. It did not take
long for the heroics of Boylston Street
to be seen around the world. Moreover,
hours after the horriﬁc and unexplained
act, the people of Boston began to show
their resilient character even more as
displaced runners found refuge in locals
homes.
As investigators poured over the
intense crime seen and hundreds of
images and video footage, the following
days were tense. On Thursday, April 18,
around 5 p.m., the FBI released images

Sturrus Phase
II still in
progress
Construction will continue
when funding goals are met
By Stephanie Giluk
Editor-in-Chief
Students at Aquinas have been
able to enjoy the benefits provided
by the first phase of construction for
the Sturrus Sports and Fitness Center
since its completion in November
of 2010. The renovations included
upgraded competition areas, three
new academic classrooms, new
locker rooms, an expanded Athletic
Training facility with new offices and
treatment areas and much more.
Phase I of Sturrus’ construction
was only the beginning. Phase II is still
to be implemented and seems to have
been stuck in relative limbo for some
time now. According to the Phase II
page on Aquinas’ website, the second
phase, once completed, will bring
“70,000 square feet of new space for
the Aquinas College community”
and will “offer a 200 meter track
with all of the amenities for track
and field events, but also additional
wooden floor courts for basketball,
volleyball, cheerleading, and dance.”
There will also be new practice areas
for various sports available and “an
extensive curtaining system” which
“will allow for multiple uses [of the
space] simultaneously.”
Alumnus Greg Alksnis and
his wife Sally Alksnis donated $1.5
million dollars to get Phase II started,
according to Aquinas’ press release
for Phase II written in July of 2012.
Phase II was originally projected to
begin construction in the fall of 2012

and reach completion “within a year.”
As summer and fall of 2013 loom
closer, it’s clear that construction for
Phase II is not nearing completion.
Vice President of Advancement
Greg Meyer confirmed that
construction for Phase II “has been
pushed back. The cost of the project
went up about $1 million dollars so
we had to continue fundraising.”
The recent flooding that has
impacted downtown Grand Rapids
and even caused several buildings
on campus to lose power has raised
concerns about the location of some
of the intended renovations and the
electrical stations that power Sturrus.
Meyer said, “We had some things that
changed in the project. We have to
do some work on the creek. We have
to fix that for the city because it will
control all the flooding downstream.”
Meyer added, “Phase II has been
split into two parts.” In addition to
the renovations already in place,
there will also be a “new entrance to
the college” off of Fulton that will be
a “more formalized entrance to the
college,” Meyer said.
There is no set timeline in place
for Phase II renovations, as all the
effort is now going toward raising
the remaining funds in order to set
Phase II back in motion. “It is our
number one priority to get Phase II
done,” Meyer said. “We are working
feverishly to meet the million dollar
mark.”

and a video of two
suspects who were
later revealed to
be Tamerlan and
Dzhokar Tsarnaev,
also known as
Su s p e ct # 1 a n d
Suspect #2.
Hours later, a
collection of tragic
events began
to unfold. The
brothers reportedly
shot down an MIT
police oﬃcer, and
preceded to car jack
a Mercedes S.U.V.
They reportedly
told the car’s driver
t h a t t h e y we r e
involved with the
Boston bombings
but miraculously
let the man go free.
An intense
police chase began
after 11 p.m.
COURTESY DENISE SANDERS
with bombs and Taking action: President Obama is briefed about Boston updates with Lisa Monaco, the assistant to the
grenades being President for Homeland Security and Counterterrorism and Chief of Staﬀ Dennis McDonough.
thrown at the
among the rubble for bodies. Fourteen
police by the suspects. Tamerlan then throat injury.
He was charged that afternoon with bodies were recovered and 60 people
exited the car with a suicide bomb
strapped to him, but was run over by two federal counts of using a weapon were still unaccounted for.
of mass destruction to kill, injure, and
Over 200 people were injured and
his brother, shot by police and killed.
over 50 homes and buildings had been
Police continued to chase Dzhokar, cause widespread damage.
In West, Texas, on Wednesday night, destroyed. Many of those among the
who fled on foot. Friday, April 19,
April
17, a fertilizer plant exploded and dead were ﬁrst responders and in a town
saw Boston and surrounding areas
were essentially shut down as police left the town of 2,800 people devastated. so small, many of them were volunteer
The cause of the ﬁre and blast is still ﬁreﬁghters.
continued their search.
A we e k f i l l e d w i t h t r a g e d y
It was not until 10 p.m. that the unknown but video footage of the
suspect was found in Watertown and blast and the town after the explosion ultimately showcased the American
apprehended. Dzhokar was taken to the detail the impact it had. The blast even spirit and camaraderie that is so easily
overlooked in a time of crisis. Financial,
registered a 2.1 on the Richter scale.
hospital with injuries.
The
blast
leveled
area
homes
and
logistic and emotional support were seen
On Monday, April 22, Dzhokar was
able to communicate with authorities caused damage to buildings miles away. both in Boston and Texas throughout the
by writing down answers, as he has a The days following the blast left crews week.
with the incredible task of looking

Graduation
information

By Lianne Crouthers
The Saint Reporter
May 4 is going to be a big
day for many Aquinas students.
Commencement has been long
awaited by many and culminates the
collegiate educational experience.
Before the big day, preparatory
activities help secure a stress-free
commencement for the Aquinas
class of 2013, including RSVPs,
ticket ordering and apparel pick-up.
Graduation tickets can be picked
up from the President’s office in
Holmdene anytime from April 8-26
between 9:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m.
Graduation apparel—
cap, gown, honor cords—will
be distributed in the bookstore
starting April 23 and will continue
through May 3. All graduation
COURTESY ANDRIS VISOCKIS
accoutrements are property of
the graduates and will not need A new step: At last year’s commencement, students make their way to the Sturrus Sports
to be returned to the bookstore and Fitness Center for the graduation ceremony.
after commencement. Apparel can also Donnelly Center as well. Both events and guests with pink special seating tickets
be picked up on the Holmdene lawn are complimentary and open-house will be seated. At 1:00 p.m., will call and
during Grad Fest on Tuesday, April 23, style. Graduates are asked to RSVP for white ticket holders will be the next to ﬁnd
between 10:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. Grads themselves and their guests to Maureen their seating in Sturrus, while green ticket
will also be able to purchase tickets for the Poirier: poirimau@aquinas.edu, 616-632- holders can enter the Wege Ballroom for
commencement brunch and update their 2883.
live feed viewing of the ceremony.
Career Services information. There will be
The commencement activities will
Graduates must report to the
an alumni gift for grads who update their begin on May 4 with a Baccalaureate Academic Building no later than 1:15 p.m.
contact information with the Alumni Oﬃce Mass at 10:00 a.m. at the Cathedral of St. Processional positions are determined
and a photo booth available to all attendees. Andrew. Graduates are encouraged to alphabetically and by degree. Once the
Any graduate interested in attending wear their caps and gowns, without their queue has been arranged, graduates
the Commencement brunch should hoods. The assembling for this event begins are asked to remain where they are
purchase their tickets—$9 apiece—at the at 9:30 a.m. with the academic procession placed; stepping out of line to mingle is
President’s oﬃce or at Student Accounts beginning at 9:50 a.m. Aquinas will discouraged.
in Hruby Hall between April 8-26.
The academic procession begins at
provide transportation from the college
A reception for Graduate and to the event.
1:45 p.m. and the Commencement begins
Continuing Education students is held on
Commencement brunch will be held at 2:00 p.m. Following the ceremony,
Thursday, May 2 from 5:30-7:00 p.m. in the after the Baccalaureate Mass in the Wege graduates are official Aquinas College
Donnelly Center. Traditional graduates Cafeteria between 11:30 a.m.-1:00 p.m.
Alumni and a new, thrilling stage of life
are invited to attend their reception on
Beginning at 12:30 p.m., the doors of begins!
Friday, May 3, from 5:00-7:00 p.m. in the Sturrus Sports and Fitness Center will open

news

page

2

<<

THE SAINT | WEDNESDAY, APRIL 24, 2013

Aquinas: Exam Cram is here again
to relieve some stress

Grand Rapids: Nonstop rain leaves
parts of GR underwater

National: Gun control advocates
stay determined despite Senate

World: Former Pakistani leader
under arrest

As students and faculty alike are feeling the
effects of the end of the semester, exam cram
is here to help again this semester. Old favorites like extended library hours and “moosages” are here again, along with some new
additions. A schedule of events can be found
on the campus life page.

After days of heavy rain, Grand Rapids areas
were quick to ﬂood. On Friday, April 19, Kent
county declared a state of emergency, a day after
Wyoming county. Many roads were completely
under water. Aquinas campus also felt the eﬀects,
with Wege pond widening and power outages in
multiple buildings on Thursday, April 18.

On Wednesday, April 17, the U.S. Senate
did not reach the sixty votes that it needed to
pass the amendments which would modify the
background-check provisions on gun ownership. President Obama did not hide his frustration, stating that their advocacy for gun control
was far from over.

Former Pakistani military leader Pervez Musharraf was surprisingly arrested and taken into
custody on Friday, April 19. From 1999 to 2008,
Musharraf held high power as an army chief in
the country where military rules. Musharraf had
been in exile, self-imposed, for the past four years
in both London and Dubai.

Positive
laura farrell |news editor
At 10:30 p.m. on Friday night,
I could finally change the channel.
Since Monday afternoon, I had been
absolutely glued to the television,
getting updates on my phone, trying to
get the latest updates. The week played
out like a bad Hollywood thriller, from
the tragic Boston bombings to bizarre
poisonous letters to Mother Nature’s
tearful fury to the devastating explosion
in West, Texas.
No doubt we were all touched by
the images we saw of heroes, in every
sense of the word. People who dropped
everything and ran into the bombed
area and carried people out. Runners
who ﬁnished the race and ran to local
hospitals to give blood. Police oﬃcers
and oﬃcials who worked around the
clock and did not rest.
For all the acts of violence, terror,
and disaster that almost erased my faith
in humanity, it was restored tenfold by
all of the people who did everything in
their power to let those in need know
that they were not alone. I have never
felt more reassured that there are people
that are making a diﬀerence, no matter
how small the act.
Unfortunately, we are not reminded
how lucky we are every week. It is really
easy to become cynical in college. We
are held to crazy expectations as we
are supposed to shell out thousands
in tuition, maintain high G.P.A.s, hold
jobs, be involved on and oﬀ campus,
and ﬁgure out the next ten years of our
life while maintaining our sanity. Slowly
but surely, it becomes harder and harder
to maintain a level of positivity that will
get you through the week of homework.
This year especially, I have found
it insanely too easy to just stop caring.
Junior year seems to be one in limbo,
where you still are trying to ﬁgure out
your college career, but are also being
reminded that you will have to function
in the real world all too soon.
By now, I am sure that most people
know of our troubles here at The Saint. I
walked into this year most excited to get
started as the News Editor, my ﬁrst year
on the editorial staﬀ. I would have never
imagined what the year would entail.
We have said it once and I will say
it again: we take full ownership for any
of our faults from previous years. And
as we have shown, we have maintained
our loyalty, and stuck with the paper the
whole year. We feel that getting out news
to students by students on campus is
important. It has been important for the
last 50 years and will be for the next 50.
Clippings of The Saint my dad
(who was a student photographer for
the paper) kept from his undergrad at
Aquinas motivated me to go to Aquinas,
transferring from a diﬀerent university
freshman year. I saw ﬁrsthand that this
school gave its students professional
opportunities and challenged them.
I appreciate that there are students
who do not agree that the paper is a
necessary institution and believe editors
and writers should not receive stipends.
But I can tell you that my dad, who
went on to medical school, has always
considered his work at the paper to be
beneﬁcial to his professional endeavors.
I do not think that he would still have
those old papers, or encourage his
daughter to follow in his steps, if he did
not think it was worthwhile.
All of us editors and writers may not
be headed to a career in journalism, but
The Saint provides a unique experience
to be professional, to promote applicable
job skills, to expand writing abilities,
and most importantly, to connect with
the community around us.
For the weeks our budget was cut,
all I wanted to do was whine. And I do
the same with my homework load, work
hours, the weather, you name it. But
whining does not do a thing.
If I learned anything this year,
especially in the past week, it is that
you have to ﬁght for your passions and
you have to maintain a positive outlook.
Sometimes it may seem that the world
is ﬁghting against you, and it probably
is. Nothing will change though if you
do not have the tenacity and courage to
ﬁght back at it.
Thank you for a wonderful year
here at the paper. We could not do what
we do without our faithful writers and
devoted readers. We tried our best to
bring you the best news, no matter how
small our staﬀ or budget. So, here is to
next year.

Spring
World News
Formal
Students dance the night
By Lianne Crouthers
The Saint Reporter

away before finals

SARAH PARLETTE / THE SAINT

A night of fun: Students take a break from the dance formal at the Spring Formal on April 20.
By Sarah Parlette
The Saint Reporter
This past Saturday at the Urban
Institute for Contemporary Arts,
Aquinas College held its annual
Spring Formal. Catered by renowned
tapas bistro San Chez and hosted
by AQ Programing Board, the event
went off without a hitch, with all
those in attendance having a great
time.
“I loved it! The venue was great
and I had such an amazing time with
my fellow Aquinas students,” said
senior Kristin Heinrich. “This was
definitely the best formal, and a great
way to enjoy my last few weeks at
Aquinas before graduation!”
Beginning around 7:45 p.m.,
Aquinas students could take small
shuttles which ran every twenty or
so minutes from the Moose to the
UICA. Once guests arrived, they
could take the elevator to the fourth
floor gallery level, check in, and, if
of legal age, receive wristbands and
two drink tickets.
“Formal exceeded my
expectations. I had heard some bad
reviews from last year and I was a
little skeptical about going, but I
was very pleasantly surprised, “ said
sophomore Molly Robertson. “The
venue was awesome and the food

was wonderful. Although I might be
a bit biased because San Chez is my
favorite restaurant.”
In fact, the food, which ranged
from a purple, sweet hummus to
crispy tortilla chips with avocado
to mini frosted cupcakes, was quite
delicious and catered to many tastes.
Students could get drinks ranging
from soda products to beer to red and
white wine.
“The atmosphere of the dance
was also great! Once everyone was on
the dance floor the party was totally
wicked,” said Robertson.
With a DJ lining up dance tunes
with beats like “Cyclone” and the
Cuban shuffle to slow dance songs
for couples, the dance floor began to
fill up around 10 p.m. after everyone
had had their fill of food. Pink, blue
and green lights danced off of the
flat, grey concrete walls of the UICA
while light from downtown Grand
Rapids filled up the large rectangular
windows.
“I thought Spring Formal was an
excellent way to end the year. It was
great fun to eat, chat, and dance with
friends,” said senior Carey Mayhew.
“The event was really high energy
and that added to the enjoyment of
being able to forget about classes for
a night.”

the Nigerian state, Bayelsa has set up
an information hotline to disparage
misinformation among the public.
According to the BBC, the advertising
campaign consists of billboards that
read: “Say No to Rumor Mongers,” in
reaction to the “pandemonium” that
ensured after a rumor that the governor
of the region had been deposed.
Balyelasn oﬃcials are hoping to stem
the practice of gossip that impacts
both political and domestic aspects of
citizens’ lives. So far the hotline has
received calls requesting information

The last two weeks have seen
an abundance of note worthy news
worldwide. Venezuela held elections
on Sunday, April 14, choosing a new
president for the ﬁrst time since 1998,
when Hugo Chavez was elected. This
mercurial leader named his preferred
successor, Nicolas Maduro, before he
died, following a terminal bout with
cancer on March 5. Mr. Maduro, a
former bus driver and ardent socialist,
engaged in a ﬁerce campaign against
his rival for presidency, Henrique
Capriles. According to the BBC,
Mr. Capriles has had a long history
of political dissent and campaign
activity.
In fact, Capriles was only defeated
by a miniscule margin by Chavez in
the October 2012 elections. When the
results of the Sunday, April 14 elections
were announced, Maduro emerged
victorious with 50.8% of the votes.
In light of his 49.0% defeat, Capriles
has submitted a formal request for a
vote-by-vote recount, even though
the National Electoral Council has
declared the results irreversible.
Presently, the U.S. is refusing to
recognize Maduro’s presidency. But
Bolivia, Colombia, Peru, Argentina,
and Brazil are accepting the results.
While Venezuela’s political future is
tenuous, it is clear that the nation is
COURTESYWALTER VARGAS
heartily divided. Facing a new postChavez world, Venezuelans will have A leader: Former Venezuelan leader
create new inroads for their country Hugo Chavez will be succeeded by Nicoin an ever shifting global landscape, las Madura.
regardless of the presidency.
In Nea Manolada, Greece, a a variety of topics. The BBC reports
foreman and a farm owner have the calls range from questions about
been arrested following the shooting legitimate tax levies to amnesty granted
of thirty migrant workers. The BBC to repentant militant groups.
reports that the strawberry farm
On April 17, Margaret Thatcher,
employs predominantly Bangladeshi Great Britain’s longest serving Prime
workers. On April 18, approximately Minister, was laid to rest in a state
200 employees congregated to protest funeral. Squelching rumors of faulty
a six month remittance of wages. At security in London following the Boston
which point, according to channel4. Marathon bombing, former Scotland
com, three foremen opened fire on Yard Detective Chief Inspector Arnie
the crowed, injuring the 30 workers. Cook posited that London is under
As of April 18, a manhunt is being almost complete surveillance on a daily
conducted to apprehend the three basis. Responding to Dick Gordon’s
foremen implicated in the crime while question on April 17’s interview on
the farm owner and another foremen NPR’s “The Story,” he affirmed that
remain in custody. The incident there no place to park your car in that
illustrates growing economic and city that is not visible by camera.
cultural tensions in Greece due to its
Thatcher’s funeral was led by the
economic recession and quasi-resolved Queen. It included full state honors and
Eurozone crisis.
was attended by over 2,000 dignitaries
Following a rigorous anti-rumor from across the world.
mongering advertising campaign,

Professor Spotlight
Professor Gary Robertson
By Paige Graham
The Saint Reporter
Professor Gary L. Robertson was born
and raised on the east side of Detroit,
Michigan. He is able to remember a
prosperous Detroit and says that his
neighborhood growing up was the
“equivalent of living in the suburbs.”
After attending a Catholic high school,
Robertson decided to stay in Detroit
and attended the University of Detroit
to study mathematics.
Once he received both his bachelors
and master’s degree from U of D, he
worked in Detroit public housing and
later came to Grand Rapids to teach at
Aquinas. Professor Robertson came to
Grand Rapids in 1969 after deciding
to take a faculty position at Aquinas
instead of Central Michigan University
in Mount Pleasant.
When asked why he chose Aquinas,
he said that he liked Grand Rapids
better than Mount Pleasant and that
Grand Rapids had a lot more housing
options. Robertson also said that when
he came to interview for the position,
it was spring and the campus looked
beautiful. After teaching here for four
years, Robertson left temporarily to
study at the University of Toronto.
Robertson is a part of the economics
department. He teaches about four
economics classes a year and used to
teach statistics. Robertson also teaches
a class about the assassination of former
president John F. Kennedy. Robertson

is the only faculty member to have ever
taught the Kennedy assassination class
and he will probably be the only one
who ever will.
Robertson said that the idea for the
class came about early on in his career
when the Dean of Students asked faculty
members for ideas for summer classes
that will be intriguing to students.
Robertson has studied the mystery
behind the JFK assassination since the
day that it happened.
Robertson says that his interest in
the JFK assassination comes from a very
personal place. “I was a sophomore in
college when it happened and Kennedy
was like a shining light for students of
my generation. All of the idealism and
new things like the Peace Corps that he
introduced was a nice contrast to the
cold war and when he’s killed, it was
a huge shock and you want to know,
why? What happened?” He says that
he has taught the class every other year
and, even though students are becoming
less and less familiar with the event as
time goes on. He still has about 20 or so
students for every class.
In addition to teaching at Aquinas,
Robertson also taught advanced
placement macroeconomics at Catholic
Central High School for ﬁve or six years.
He reﬂects warmly on the experience,
saying that Catholic Central had a very
warm and welcoming environment. He
liked teaching AP level classes because
“with AP you get the best students in
the senior class. They are all competing

News Editor Laura Farrell E-mail saint.editors@aquinas.edu

to be valedictorian and to be admitted
into the best universities in the country.
I often joke around and say, if I had
asked those kids to stand on their desks
and sing ‘Old McDonald Has a Farm,’
they would have done it. They would
have done anything I asked them to do.
They would ask penetrating questions,
and it wasn’t just a few of them; it was
the whole group of them.” Robertson
stopped teaching there two years ago
due to budget cuts.
Outside of teaching, Robertson raises
cattle at his home in the country. He
says that he has about ﬁve or six cows
at a time. He raises them to eventually
send them to be slaughtered for meat.
He also, along with his wife, loves to go
traveling. He has been to various places
in Europe and owns timeshare in Tahiti.
His only granddaughter lives in France
and he visits her at least once a year.
“Fortunately, she is ﬂuent in English,”
said Robertson, because his French skills
are somewhat limited.
Robertson has been teaching at
Aquinas for 40 years and is retiring
a year earlier than he had previously
anticipated. He says he will miss
Aquinas very much and that it will be
very different not coming into work
everyday. He admits to thinking about
what life will be like after Aquinas,
saying, “I wonder… will I sometimes
dream that I am back in this hallway?”
(referring to the hallway in which his
oﬃce is located). Robertson says that
even though he is sad about leaving, he

Phone (616) 632-2975

Website www.aquinas.edu/thesaint

believes that Aquinas will continue to
prosper after he is gone. He commented
speciﬁcally on the new president, Juan
Olivarez, and said that he thinks he
is “just what Aquinas needs.” After
he retires, Robertson wants to take up
ﬁshing with his wife and continue to
travel.
Gary Robertson has been an excellent
member of the Aquinas community
for the last 40 years and he will surely
be missed. It is easy to say that his
students and his colleagues will always
remember him. On behalf of the Aquinas
community, The Saint would like to
wish that the rest of his life be happy,
prosperous, and adventurous.
FAV O R I T E S C O R N E R :
Movie: Lord of the Rings
Book: Foundation series by Isaac
Asimov
Actress: Meryl Streep
Actor: George C. Scott
Place to eat in GR: (used to be)
Little Mexico
Place to Travel: Venice, Italy
Sport: Baseball
Fun Fact: Once, Robertson had
two feeder pigs named Ham and
Bacon. He named them these names
so that his young sons wouldn’t
make the mistake of thinking of
them as pets.

3

THE SAINT WEDNESDAY, APRIL 24, 2013

NEWS

North Korea remains Kid Rock keeps
unpredictable
prices low

By Sarah Parlette
The Saint Reporter
In light of recent hostilities, it is
easy to get bogged down in loads
of misinformation regarding the
D e m o c r a t i c Pe o p l e s R e p u b l i c o f
Korea and its threats to both the
United States and the international
community.
Most commonly known as North
K o r e a , t h e c o u n t r y ’s c a p i t a l o f
Pyongyang
has been
releasing
propaganda
videos theses
past few
weeks, as well
as becoming
more and
more vocal
about its
long range weapons capabilities,
particularly to the United States.
Grainy images and video of simulated
destruction of the White House and
other American national monuments
as well as antagonistic rhetoric and
the throwing around of the term
“imperialist” has caused tensions to
rise again and again despite urges
from the international community for
all parties to remain calm.

Since March, dictator and national
leader Kim Jong-un, the third son of
previous Supreme Leader Kim Jongil, has been issuing threats to both
the United States and U.S. ally the
Republic of Korea as well as Japan
in retaliation for tighter economic
sanctions stipulated by the United
Nations.
These sanctions, which came
into effect this past March, were in
response to a December 2012 satellite

Korean military drills ceased and the
sanctions removed.
The question is whether or not
the government-controlled country
will carry out its threat, and if it
does,what are its capabilities?
Recent information from North
Korea has stated that the country
feels threatened by high American
presences on the Korean peninsula,
viewing it as invasive due to
various military drills that both the
United state
and South
Korea have
been jointly
w o r k i n g
practicing
near
the
North-South
border and
demilitarized
zone.
Pyongyang has been tied to the
U n i t e d S t a t e s f o r o ve r 5 0 ye a r s
through trade; however, diplomatic
relations have always been tense,
particularly due to high US military
presence on the southern portion of
the Korean peninsula since the end
of the Korean war.

<<THE PEOPLES REPUBLIC OF KOREA
HAS OFFERED TO OPEN CHANNELS
OF DIALOGUE WITH THE UNITED
STATES AND SOUTH KOREA>>
launch, which violated the North
Korean Missiles ballistic missiles ban,
and nuclear weapons test this past
February. The sanctions specifically
target North Korean diplomats and
severely cut down on the amount of
severely needed of food aid.
As of April 18, the Peoples Republic
of Korea has offered to open channels
of dialogue with the United States
and South Korea, stating that such
talks would only occur if U.S.-South

Sustainability
in general
education?
with the Chair
of the General
Education
R e v i s i n g
One of the biggest issues
Committee,
that stands in the way of
D a n i e l
p r o m o t i n g a wa r e n e s s o f
Brooks, who
environmental problems is
encouraged the
a lack of knowledge. Two
two to continue
Aquinas students are making
p u r s i n g
strides to change this and
getting this
if they are successful, there
class included.
will be a wave of students
“There are a
who will be much more
lot of people
knowledgeable as a result.
who feel like
Molly Robertson and Anna
these issues
Voss, two Sustainable Business
are bogus.
majors, are urging the faculty
They have the
at Aquinas to incorporate a
mentality that
course on sustainability ability
it’s our planet
in the general education
to do what we
requirements.
want with it,
R o b e r t s o n a n d Vo s s
but there are
expressed that this course
others who just
would be “incredibly helpful,”
a r e n ’t a wa r e
not only by educating people
but potentially sparking
COURTESY BRIAN KELLY o f i t , ” s a i d
Robertson.
interest in students to take Teaching awareness: Dr. Matthew Teuth instructs a sustainable business
With any
s t e p s t o s t a r t i n i t i a t i n g class in 2011.
luck,
Robertson
change. According to
this course included in the Gen. Ed
Robertson, “there is just a general lack requirements signed by their entire and Voss would like to see the class
of education” and “education is a step class. They have also received and included in the requirements in the next
toward change and action.” The two immense amount of support from two years.
Despite this challenges, both
have been working toward getting the students and faculty members.
included into the general education Associate Dean of Student Affairs students are still taking steps to show
requirement curriculum since January. Jennifer Dawson backed the two the Aquinas staﬀ and faculty that they
The class will raise awareness on enthusiastically, providing the two with are serious about this. They have plans
sustainability issues with farming, information on what steps they will for a large earth day event, along with
promoting the use of alternative fuel need to get this course up and running starting a club that will educate the
and removing harmful contaminants as well as suggesting potential material areas youth on the issues that exist in
the community and on a larger scale.
from beverage containers. They have for the course.
already gotten a petition signed to get
Robertson and Voss have also talked

By Spencer Wilczewski
The Saint Reporter

Flooding problems
By Laura Farrell
News Editor
Rain, rain, and more rain has caused
a headache of a problem for West
Michigan. Rain fall measurements
and river levels have hit historic
levels as flooding has caused major
damage around Grand Rapids and
surrounding areas like Lowell, Ada,
Comstock Park and more. On Sunday,
April 21, 2013, the Grand River
measured at 21.84 feet, crushing the
1985 record of 19.64 feet.
Many homes found along the Grand
River are victims of serious flooding,
as homeowners have resorted to rafts
and kayaks to retrieve possessions
from their homes.
Aerial pictures of the Grand
River, downtown and other areas are
testament to the massive amounts
of displaced rainwater. Volunteers
worked over the weekend bagging
sand for those who need it.
Aquinas College was not exempt
from the flooding as students arrived
to campus on Thursday, April 18.

Wege Pond
seemed to
be triple in
size, almost
cresting
t h e b r i dg e
w a l k w a y.
Albertus
Hall, the
Arts and
M u s i c
Center,
W e g e
Center, and
Sturrus
Sports and
F i t n e s s
Center all
lost power
for most of
the day on
T h u r s d a y.
The power
LAURA FARRELL / THE SAINT
w
a
s
restored by
T h u r s d a y Water, water everywhere: Pipes pump water from various ﬂooded
locations back into the Grand River oﬀ Fulton St. on April 21.
night.

News Editor Laura Farrell

E-mail saint.editors@aquinas.edu

By Carly Plank
The Saint Reporter
Kid Rock will be touring
relentlessly this summer behind the
2012 record Rebel Soul on a venture
he has dubbed “The $20 Best Show
E ve r. ” T h e r a p p e r t u r n e d r o c k
sensation from Detroit is known for
his working class attitude, but not
always for supporting working class
politics.
Although the Kid was an
outspoken supporter of Republican
Presidential Candidate Mitt Romney
during the 2012 election, he has been
making some highly democratic

How does Detroit’s patron sinner
keep prices at rock bottom? He
shamelessly plugs sponsors during
concerts, sometimes attracting
criticism from fans. During the
portion of the show before the band
returns to the stage for an encore,
brands such as Harley Davidson
and Jim Beam are spewed across a
video screen in mildly distasteful
juxtaposition to Kid Rock’s recorded
voice chanting about the virtues of
American tradition.
M a n y a s p e c t s o f K i d R o c k ’s
outrageous character invite mistaken
first impressions. Long hair, stage
pyrotechnics, and country swagger

COURTESY DAVID MARK

Rock on: Detroit native Kid Rock thinks of fans ﬁrst as he aims to keep all ticket
prices for his summer tour aﬀordable.
choices lately, including a recent
decision to keep ticket prices as close
to $20 as possible for shows on his
2013 summer tour.
When Kid Rock spoke to Rolling
Stone earlier this year, he expressed
his outrage a policy outlawing what
he interpreted as the sale of paperless
tickets at event sites in New York.
However, the law in question was put
in place to prevent companies such
as Ticketmaster from charging extra
processing fees on the sale or transfer
paperless tickets.
Supporting his fans is not a
matter Kid Rock takes lightly. In
addition to drastically reduced ticket
prices, a section of front row seats
will be raffled off to discount ticket
buyers at every tour stop, and the
prices of beer, food and merchandise
will be slashed.

contradict the singer ’s professional
work ethic, hometown pride, and
loyalty towards fans. Explicit lyrics
and a reputation for a hard partying
lifestyle often overshadow Kid Rock’s
skills as a multi instrumentalist as
well as his life as a single father.
Similarly, what appears solely as a
commitment to big name sponsors
is actually a novel means of keeping
concerts affordable for the fan base
that helped Kid Rock make a name
for himself.
If sponsors can prevent Kid Rock
from facing a steep pay cut while
simultaneously keeping fans from
reaching deep into their pockets to
attend his concerts, everyone wins.

New busing
system
promises
easy
commutes
By Stephanie Giluk
Editor-in-Chief
If you’ve never ridden The Rapid before, now might be a good time
to consider trying out Grand Rapids’ public transportation system.
According to Mlive, Michigan’s
first bus transit line started construction earlier this month right
here in Grand Rapids. The Rapid
has been planning the Division Avenue Bus Rapid Transit for over a decade and the necessary construction
to implement the Division Avenue
transit line has just begun and will
be completed by summer 2014.
The 33 new stations will be
constructed between 60th Street in
Wyoming and downtown Grand
Rapids, with 29 of the stations to be
completed this year and the other
four to be completed before August
of 2014. The total cost for this phase
of the transit line will be around
$15.6 million.
The goal of the transit line is to
take 40 percent off commuter times,
with a bus arriving every 10 minutes
during peak travel times (6 a.m. to
9 p.m. and 3 p.m. to 6 p.m.) and every 20-30 minutes during off-times.
There will be special lanes for these
buses to travel in, which will help
cut down on time as well. The Silver
Line bus system will be available in
August 2014 as a viable transport

Phone (616) 632-2975

Website www.aquinas.edu/thesaint

option if all goes as planned.
When the new stations are
done, they will be equipped with
emergency phones, bike racks, more
seating, kiosks with which people
can purchase rides ahead of time
(fare will still be $1.50), snowmelt
systems for winter months, surveillance cameras and more.
Senior Karen Heeringa is in favor of the new system. “I voted for
the new bus line, and I’m excited
for it to start. The security they’re
implementing will be a nice change,
too, because waiting for the bus
alone in the dark can not only be
scary, but I often worry that the bus
driver won’t see me. It’ll be nice to
be in a sheltered area as well, so I’m
not standing out in the rain. Plus
knowing if I’ve missed the bus or
not will save time,” she said.
Until the transit line is complete, the right-hand lanes around
each station site will be shut down
and construction will include sidewalk and street improvements,
landscaping and utility relocation.
For more information, check out
ridetherapid.com, where you can
find a complete construction schedule for the transit line, a route map
and much more.

opinion
>>
FROM THE CROWD

APPLAUSE TO...

Boston police force, for keeping their city safe in
a time of crisis;
SNL reruns, for keeping us entertained;
The Great Gatsby, for giving English majors
something to look forward to;
The Saint editorial staff and writers, for making
this newspaper possible;
Hannibal, for being a delicious new TV show;
Paper extensions, for allowing us to procrastinate
a little bit longer;
The Office, for making eight years in an office
seem bearable;
Summer, for being just around the corner.

HECKLES TO...
News coverage, for jumping the shark one too
many times;
Snow and rain, for turning downtown Grand
Rapids into a swimming pool;

page

THE SAINT | WEDNESDAY, APRIL 24, 2013

It’s really just that
simple
By Hillary Najor
The Saint Reporter
What if I told you to give up
technology so that you could only
live with your essential needs? I’m
sure you would think life would be
harder, but in actuality, your life
would be simpler. Living in simplicity is challenging, but it is a lifestyle
that truly makes life easier.
Almost two months ago, I had
the opportunity to go to Jerusalem
Farm in Kansas City, Mo. One of
their cornerstones is simplicity. For
five days, they told us to live without
our cell phones. Honestly, it was one
of the easiest things I have ever had
to do. It made me realize how much
I use my cell phone to divert myself
when I am in awkward situations
or how I use my phone when I am
bored for about ten seconds during a
shopping trip.
At Jerusalem Farm, I did not
have that luxury of using my phone.
It made me live in the present. I was
not distracted by my phone during
any of my conversations, and I actually had to focus on what people
were saying. It made me sad to realize how cell phones have stopped
me from living in the present. It also
made me realize how much I love the
simplistic lifestyle.

Splash, for being a show about C-list celebrities
diving into pools;
Friday exams, for making us stay here all week;
Sleep, for being unattainable during these last
few weeks of school;

In the article “Summer research at Aquinas,” Dr.
Rob Peters and Dr. Jonathan Fritz were identified
in the article as Associate Professors when they are
Assistant Professors in their respective departments.

theSaint

By Jarrod Irwin
Guest Writer
I’m writing in response to Daniel Luckenbaugh’s April 10 letter on
the Boy Scouts of America’s policy
against openly gay members. I share
his concern with the tone LGBTrights debates often take. However,
his accusations of hypocrisy overlook the damage the current policy
inflicts.
The BSA already has gay members. Since boys as young as 10 can
become Boy Scouts, many do so before they’re aware of their sexuality.
When gay Scouts summon the integrity to be honest about themselves,
it earns them expulsion from an or-

Stephanie Giluk
Laura Farrell
Paris Close

Sports Editor
Managing Editor

***
Please note that the views expressed on this page are those of their
respective author(s), and do not necessarily represent the views of The Saint
as a whole.

MISSION
The Saint has worked diligently for the past 31 years to produce an informative,
entertaining and journalistically-correct student publication. The Saint is
distributed by students at Aquinas College and in the surrounding community.
Our goal is to continue to provide an open forum for the ideas, views and
concerns of the Aquinas community.

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
All letters must include a signature, typed or handwritten, and include a phone
number for the sole purpose of verification. The Saint reserves the right to edit
letters to the editor based on content, punctuation, length and libel issues.
Letters should not exceed 300 words. We will not print anonymous letters to
the editor and will not accept letters to the editor over the phone.

>> write us a letter!

e-mail — saint.editors@aquinas.edu,
or use the form on our website.

physical copies – AB, Room 2

cause of the lapses of a few, but not
discipline a straight Scout for his
own actions. This double standard
has a name: prejudice.
Compare that to how people are
fighting for an inclusive BSA: not by
spending millions to tamper with
state constitutions, but by asking
the BSA’s authorities to change their
own policy. Gay people wouldn’t do
that if they hated the organization.
They respect it, so they deserve to
contribute to it.
It’s fair to scrutinize the tone of
this debate. However, opponents’
language does not excuse unjust
policies or their morally outrageous
rationales.

a tender topic

Alyssa Frese
Michelle Szczap

Adviser Dr. Dan Brooks

ganization that, as Mr. Luckenbaugh
says, is formative to many young
lives. That cuts much deeper than
the word “bigotry” ever can.
Besides, terms like that typically
describe the current policy, not the
BSA itself—the policy’s opponents
hate the sin but love the sinner. They
know the BSA isn’t bigoted. In fact,
many Scouts know that a book saying idolatry causes homosexuality
(Romans 1:22-27) shouldn’t be the
last word on the subject.
Mr. Luckenbaugh’s letter reveals
the double standard behind the current policy. After worrying about
gay people’s attractions, he dismisses straight people’s unpredictable
reactions to gay BSA members. It’s
absurd to exclude all gay people be-

living simple because you know what
each ingredient is. If you looked on
a box of Kraft Macaroni, you would
probably not understand half of the
ingredients. Those unknown ingredients do more harm than good. If you
were to make your own soup, you
would know what is going into the
recipe. When we live simply, we can
put more time into making meals.
If many questions are asked in
the process, it is not simple. Knowing easily how things got there is
what creates simplicity.
The world we live in creates barriers from seeing what is important.
I have just started to implement simplicity into my lifestyle therefore I
know am I still consumed with technology. I have found that after going
without Facebook or Twitter for longer periods of time, I find myself trying to interact in person with people
more. I find myself not complaining
and causing unnecessary stress over
a status I have read. Everyday, I am
learning how to live simply. It is difficult to adjust to at first, but once
you start to de-clutter your life and
use less technology, you’ll see how
easy it can be. When we live simply,
we rid life of pointless anxieties, and
that is when we begin to fully live.

Fighting words

Conspiracy theorists, for being crazy.

In the article “Professor Spotlight,” Professor
Anthony Burdick was referred to as “Dr. Burdick,”
but he does not hold a doctorate.

Simplicity can be implemented
in many different aspects of people’s
lives. We live in a consumer filled
world. We are told to keep buying to
keep the economy going. In the end,
we culminate more than we need.
Do we really need all those shirts or
purses? Probably not, but we think
we do especially if the deal going on
says two for one. When we hold onto
more things, we become attached to
them. If we all consumed less, would
we not be on a more equal playing
field? If we consumed less, we would
be throwing away less trash, which
equals less harm to the environment.
If we got rid of those unnecessary
items, there would be less things to
worry about and to cause distraction
in life.
The simple lifestyle does not
stop at consumption but extends to
where things are bought. Shopping
at a local farmer’s market is perfect
example. I love exploring the Fulton
Street Farmer’s Market and purchasing fruits and vegetables that I love
or have never tried before. In the
process, I know I am helping the local economy and farmers in the area.
Knowing my vegetables and fruit
that I am about to eat have not traveled across the United States is a big
bonus to me.
Even making your own meals is

Letters to the
Editor

Justin Bieber, for assuming Anne Frank would
like his music;

Corrections from our April 10 issue:

4

By Paris Close
Culture Editor
Before I begin, consider this an
informative response to a Letter to
the Editor in the April 10 issue pertaining to the Boy Scouts of America’s policy on banning open homosexual participation.
While I know little to nothing about being a Scout, I do know
something about being a member
of another organization: the LGBT.
Though we strive for equality and
understanding, we receive a boatload of biblical scriptures condemning our lifestyle and are eventually
sent on our way.
It’s no secret we live in a homophobic world and this fact is beyond
disappointing. However, what’s
more disappointing is opening your
college’s newspaper and having to
endure reading a letter written by a
blatantly stereotypical mind.
In the letter, the author poses
one question in particular, referencing homosexual involvement: “How
do you suggest that Scouting protect against the possibility that gay

Management E-mail saint.business@aquinas.edu

Phone (616) 632-2975

adults and Scouts may want to have
sex with their straight comrades on
campouts, and similar scenarios?”
The “possibility” of sexual intercourse with straight men is not
linked only to gay men. I found this
assumption to be offensive to gay
individuals like myself, because we
certainly do not all desire to have
sex with our straight colleagues.
I’d like mention there is nothing
wrong with two individuals wanting to have sex, no matter their gender or sexual identity. There is nothing wrong with having consensual
sex; however, I would not consider
it appropriate behavior for a Boy
Scout trip.
While I sympathize with those
individuals who’ve adopted such illiberal concepts, I must cast a light
of intellect upon those unknowing.
Let it be known, not every gay
individual longs to have sex with
another individual because they are
straight. We are not wild animals
who prey on the same sex. In fact,
it is that kind of bigoted attitude responsible for the expanse between
both gay and straight peoples today.

Website www.aquinas.edu/thesaint

In reality, straight and gay individuals learn from, live and communicate with one another every day
without the imaginary fear of being
coerced into sex. We see such thriving platonic relationships in everyday life and more importantly, on
our very campus.
Although I cannot bring myself
to agree with the author ’s assertions
against homosexual involvement in
the organization, I am glad we are
both able to express our thoughts
and feelings on a public platform.
Understand, I am not insisting
those reading this article change
their beliefs or notions of homosexual human beings. However, I expect everyone to keep one particular thing in mind: homosexuals are
Homo sapiens as well.
We are not limited by these malignant stereotypes. We too have
morals and feelings just as you all
do. And that, my friends, is something I hope you’ll never forget.

culture
Movies: More Tony Stark, anyone?
If you were among the many who tuned into
the MTV Movie Awards this past Sunday, chances
are you were equally excited to see the sneak peak
for Iron Man 3. What more motivation is there to
ﬁnish strong on exams than knowing your favorite
superhero ﬂick premieres on the last day of school?
Hold tight, May 3 is just around the corner.

page

5

THE SAINT |WEDNESDAY, APRIL 24, 2013

Television: The Office season finale
After eight years of nonstop entertainment,
NBC’s The Oﬃce bids fans farewell as the series
comes to its end this May. The sitcom that brought
us family favorites Jim and Pam Halpert and the
infamous Michael Scott has certainly left a legacy,
spawning nine successful seasons. Be sure to catch
the ﬁnale this summer Thursday, May 16.

Music: A possible Perry album for
the summer
While most of you are probably still bumping
to Katy Perry’s “Teenage Dream,” the singer’s been
shaking things up in the studio with her latest
record, working with songwriter Sia Furler (cowriter of “Titanium”). While she kept the details to
a minimum, according to Digital Spy, Perry plans to
release the album in Summer 2013 (ﬁngers crossed).

<<

IN THE SPOTLIGHT

>> KIM KARDASHIAN

Say what you want about Kim
Kardashian, but the star knows how to
keep herself in the news. And for good
reasons, might we add. Lately, Kim K
has been spotted rocking her baby bump
body with pride, even snapping a few
selfies on Twitter for her caring fans.

COURTESY JASON MERRITT

The Place Beyond the Pines

Let’s talk
Disney
paris close | culture editor
It’s almost that time of the year again.
And I don’t know about you but I’ve been
ready for the summer since this semester
began. Now that it is ﬁnally coming to a
close, and the sunny season is vastly approaching, it could only mean one thing:
summer jams are cruising in.
Lately, some of Disney’s biggest
names have been laying low for some time
but are ﬁnally emerging this year with
new material. Although I could not bring
myself to say every return was equally
successful or necessary, there have been
quite a few artists who have returned with
some iPod-worthy material.
So let’s get down to it, shall we?
Selena Gomez: PASS x3
I’ve never liked Selena Gomez. There.
I’ve said it, and now I have egg on my face
because I’ve underestimated the musical
talents of Bieber’s former love. My use of
the term talent is only limited to her musical bracket (teen pop). I heard “Naturally,”
for the ﬁrst time while driving to work
in 2010 and caught the worrisome stares
of neighboring drivers as I sang and improvised the lyrics at the occasional stop
light. But she just couldn’t stop there. No.
Gomez had to win me over even more
with irresistibly catchy songs like “Round
& Round” and the sentimental tune “Who
Says.” After withdrawing from her band
the Scene last year, the singer has since
pursued a solo career. Her ﬁrst single being “Come & Get It.” If you love Rihanna,
as I do, you’re most likely going to enjoy
the indigenous reggae tone Gomez has
adopted on this soon-to-be summer hit.
Once again, Selena slays.
Miley Cyrus: PASS x2
As if Miss Cyrus wasn’t trying to deviate any further from her Hannah Montana heritage, she goes on to test the ﬂavors of hip-hop for 2013. This is why I give
ample praises to Cyrus. Not for breaking
away from her Disney tween image but
more so for her inclination to take risks
musically. I know many fans were either
revolted or embarrassed by her return
to music in 2010 with “Can’t Be Tamed.”
I’m sure you’ve seen the video where she
prances around like a creature you’d expect to see from Harry Potter? Well aside
from that catastrophic mess, the album, of
the same name, was really as bad (in my
opinion, at least).
I was resting on a La-Z-Boy recliner
when I ﬁrst heard Snoop Lion’s “Ashtrays
& Heartbreaks,” and almost fell to the
ﬂoor when I heard Cyrus’ voice. I must
say, she’s come a long way to have teamed
up with one of hip-hop’s most respected
rappers. The song is mellow, relaxed and a
winner in my book (and on my iPod).
Demi Lovato: PASS
I wouldn’t necessarily consider myself a “Lovatic,” as she so often calls her
many supporters. Not because I, myself,
am not an avid follower of hers but because
the name sounds kind of weird. Nonetheless, I’ve always been a Lovato fan ever
since her debut album, Don’t Forget. With
every passing record she never fails to win
me over with her amazing vocals, which
far surpass any other Disney star to date.
“Heart Attack,” her latest success, has become an instant favorite of mine ever since
its release in February 2013. I’m sure if she
keeps producing breakup songs like this,
as well as “Give Your Heart a Break” and
“Fix a Heart,” Lovato could easily make
Taylor Swift the forerunner of sensationalizing tear jerking music.
Jonas Brothers: FAIL
When I heard the JoBros were reuniting for their ﬁfth record, I was probably
the only “guy” in the world who actually
got all overwhelmed with excitement. I
will proudly be the ﬁrst to admit the music of the Jonas Brothers have tugged on
my heartstrings since my time in high
school (curse you, adolescent me). But c’mon,
you mean to tell me you’ve never gotten
the urge to sing “When You Look Me In
the Eyes” in the shower or “Burnin’ Up”
when no one else is home?
Fine. I stand alone on that one.
Still, no matter how much I adore a
band, I will never hand out free passes for
a lackluster song. Their supposed comeback single “Pom Poms” is just about as
embarrassing to hear as the music video
was to watch. Whatever pseudo-soul/
funk direction the band is trying to take is
in desperate need of a detour, or perhaps a
raincheck on the entire trip. I am oﬃcially
over this song.
Well this was fun and all but my Biology book is literally calling to me. Paris,
have you learned adiabatic cooling yet? Ehh,
gotta run. Until next time, enjoy your summer and have fun in the sun!

An authentic American drama

By Paige Graham
The Saint Reporter
If you’re the type of person who
isn’t afraid of the dark, Ouija boards,
the paranormal, or the extraterrestrial then The Play Beyond the Pines
might just be the perfect movie for
you. This movie isn’t classified as a
“horror ” film but the story within
it is definitely just as terrifying and
traumatic as The Exorcist or Paranormal Activity.
The most terrifying part of The
Place Beyond the Pines its realism.
The movie is as realistic as any documentary about any average person
in any average place. It is truly a
tragedy that makes the tears swell
and the heart wrench.
The simple story of a couple of
young, struggling Americans turns
into an explosively dramatic catastrophe and the worst part is that this
story could easily be about your best
friend, your neighbor, or even you.
Starring Ryan Gosling, Bradley
Cooper, and Eva Mendes, The Place
Beyond the Pines revolves around the
story of a young, degenerate motorcycle stunt rider named Luke (Gosling) who, after having a one night
stand with a young girl (Mendes) he
meets at a carnival, finds himself in
a morally and financially compromising situation. In order to deal
with his financial struggles, Luke
starts robbing banks and inevitably bumps heads with an ambitious
rookie cop navigating a department
ruled by a corrupt detective.
The Place Beyond the Pines was
directed by Derek Cianfrance, noted
for his 2010 movie, Blue Valentine.
Much like his previous films, The
Place Beyond the Pines was filmed
completely in residential and rural
communities, using low-budget and

COURTESY ATSUSHI NISHIJIMA

Scoring big: The Place Beyond the Pines could be the next American classic after scoring rave reviews.
handheld cameras to give a more
realistic feel. In an online interview
with Steve Weintraub, Cianfrance
said his extensive background in
documentary work played a large
part in the creation and direction of
this film.
Gosling is nearly perfect in his
portrayal of Luke. His bleach blonde
hair, irreverent, idiotic tattoos and
extremely drab clothing make him
very memorable and relatable to the
audience. He creates a character that
is very distant and impulsive, much
like a majority of the one-track
minded and poverty-stricken American youth is today. Cooper also
pulls his weight with the character

Fall Out Boy makes
one heck of a comeback

of Avery, the rookie cop. Cooper
allows the audience to experience
what many people don’t often think
of in modern society—the emotional
strife that accompanies the life of a
police officer.
Mendes is probably the most
surprising with her performance
as Luke’s love interest, Romina.
Mendes is not exactly known for
very high quality acting but this
performance just might change that
forever. Mendes portrays Romina,
a very soft spoken and troubled
young woman who often says twice
as much with her face than she does
with her mouth. Her subtleness and
passion manifests a realness that

might otherwise have not been present in the film.
Rotten Tomatoes has given The
Place Beyond the Pines an 81% approval rating with an audience average rating of 4/5 stars. IMDB gave
the movie 7.8/10 rating. Personally,
I give this movie a 9.9/10 rating.
Although no movie can be perfect,
I can honestly say this is the best
movie that’s come out in theaters
this year. There is not a single person I wouldn’t recommend this
movie to, nor do I think there is any
person on this planet that would not
enjoy this film.

It’s about time: Fall Out Boy reunites for an amazing revival album.
By Sarah Parlette
The Saint Reporter
After keeping everyone in the dark
for the last ﬁve years, it is safe to say that
Fall Out Boy can still summon up a good
CD. Their ﬁfth studio album, Save Rock
and Roll, released April 16, reinvigorates
the band’s old sound and is fairly reminiscent of their earlier tunes.
The new album, full of steady drum
beats, holds a lot of anthem-like qualities, from mock-marching rhythms to
command-like shouts and battle themed
lyrics, despite sort of ﬁzzling out during
the last few songs.
Opening the album is “Phoenix,” a
hard thumping battle song with lyrics
like “put your war paint on.” Fall Out
Boy reclaims their former sound and
leaves audiences wanting more from the
rest of the album while seemingly preparing themselves to ﬁght back for their
place on the music charts.
Already released single “My Songs
Know What You Did in the Dark (Light
Em Up)” drives a thumping, repetitive
drum beats with catchy lyrics, getting
stuck in one's head over and over. “Alone
Together” slows the pace of the album
quite a bit but still manages to push audiences through. Vocalist Patrick Stump
keeps dreams alive and encourages stay-

Culture Editor Paris Close

ing youthful forever as he croons out the
allusive lyrics, “My heart is like a stallion/ They love it more when it’s broken.”
“Where Did the Party Go,” tells the story
of a fun couple, their shenanigans, and
resurrecting past memories.
While I commend Fall Out Boy for
bringing guest artists onto the highly
anticipated album, with appearances by
Courtney Love, Elton John and Big Sean,
they don’t particularly ﬁt in with the story or sound in Save Rock and Roll. For instance, “The Mighty Fall,” featuring Big
Sean is a good song and sort of blends
well but is a bit overwhelming at ﬁrst
listen. The overlapping sounds make the
song seem over-synthesized, burying
Stump’s voice, and is way too electronic
to match anything else.
“Just One Yesterday,” featuring British singer Foxes, slips in nicely on this
song list. A bit slower than the rest, it still
rounds out the ﬁrst ﬁve songs cleanly
while following the pop-ish theme of
love and preparing for life’s adventures.
Overall, Save Rock and Roll is an album that I have had on repeat for a few
days and have enjoyed it with each listen. It is a good return album for Fall Out
Boy and deserves some attention, if not
space on your iPod.

E-mail saint.editors@aquinas.edu

Call her Taylor Swift’s
more eloquent evil twin.
Compare her to Kacey
Musgraves on steroids.
COURTESY LAUREN MITCHELL
Just don’t call her a country darling. Caitlin Rose, Well rooted: Rose’s music isn’t to be missed.
the chain smoking, Stella
Artois drinking 25-year-old Texan mualbum, Rose covered Fleetwood Mac’s
sically rooted in Nashville, deﬁes the
country-tinged “That’s Alright,” and
limitations of genre in a refreshing way.
collaborated with other writers for
Perhaps the Swift connection
songs such as “Own Side,” developing
is unavoidable, as Caitlin’s mother,
a reputation for tongue in cheek lansongwriter Liz Rose, has earned sevguage set oﬀ by a seemingly innocent
eral Grammys for songs she penned
voice.
for Swift herself.
Not surprisingly,
The Stand-In was released in March
Caitlin Rose has grown up with singer2013 and showcased the maturity of a
songwriter aspirations, admiring such
talented band, implementing elements
artists as Linda Ronstadt, Bonnie Raitt,
of country, such as pedal steel guitar
and Roseanne Cash.
and minimal production, with honest
Vocally, Rose has crafted a lilting
lyrics and up tempo rock jams blendand soulful delivery with a bell-like
ing with the voice of an old soul. The
timbre that peaks in the upper range
unquestionable highlight of the album
of her register. Although no ragged
is “I Was Cruel,” a lyrical jackpot with
edges are audible, emotion remains just
phrases such as “Loving you is the
beneath the surface and angst rolls in
hardest thing to do/ Hardest thing to
with lyrics like thunder clouds gatherdo sometimes” and “I never knew I was
ing rain. Complex, intricate phrasing
cruel/ Baby, ‘till I met you” that are sure
lends originality to the singer’s classical
to cut into the core of the song’s inspiracountry and rock inﬂuences.
tion.
Rose broke into the Nashville inIf Nashville’s edgy girl next door
die scene in 2007 when her band Save
continues to top previous releases as
Macaulay was signed to a local record
she has since 2008, taking on more volabel. She left shortly thereafter to purcal and musical risks each time, there
sue solo ventures, releasing her 2008 EP
is no telling what territory she may
Dead Flowers, which features a Rolling
cover. Visit thecaitlinrose.com and pick
Stones cover as the title song. She folup Own Side Now or The Stand-In to get
lowed up with 2010’s Own Side Now,
a taste of everything current pop and
earning critical acclaim and broadencountry sensations are missing.
ing her fan base considerably. On the

Phone (616) 632-2975

Website www.aquinas.edu/thesaint

6

CULTURE

SAMPLER
XXV

THE SAINT |WEDNESDAY, APRIL 24, 2013

Yeah Yeah Yeah’s Mosquito

By Sarah Parlette
The Saint Reporter
& Paris Close
Culture Editor
Each year, a handful of Aquinas
College’s very own talented artists
submit works of poetry, short fiction,
creative nonfiction and art of various
styles to the school’s literary publication, the SAMPLER.
A ceremonial reading is held to
commemorate these selected artists
for their outstanding contributions to
the publication.
In addition to the reading, an
honorary judge is chosen to present
the award for the Academy of American Poetry Prize sponsored by the
Academy of American Poets Contest
for Colleges and Universities.
Poet and writer Keith Taylor was
selected as the final judge for the 2013
prize.
This year’s victor was senior Sarah Branz for her poem “The Spinner,”
and the Honorable Mention title went
to fellow senior, Danielle Alexander,
for her poem “Mother.”
The SAMPLER, now in its 25th
year of publication, is a celebration of
the creative talent at Aquinas. What
makes the publication so special is
that it welcomes artists from all walks
of life and gives students the opportunity to showcase their artistic abilities.
“It feels absolutely amazing,“said
Branz, referring to her win. “It is always so satisfying to be recognized
for doing something that you’re passionate about.”
Branz’s winning piece, “The
Spinner,” describes the relationship
between her and her father as they
spin fishing line.
Branz said her poem was inspired
by a pottery and textile show where
she watched a group of spinners making yarn which reminded her of her
father stringing a fishing pole.
While the poem is subtle and succinct, it captures the memory of her
father and creates both vivid and nostalgic images perfectly.
For Branz, the SAMPLER win was
an unexpected one and something
that she still cannot quite believe.
Despite having written “The
Spinner” for herself, Branz hopes
readers will draw their own meaning
from it. “If it reminds them of something in their past or if they can relate
to it in some way, that’s what I’d like
the poem to emphasize in their own
minds.”

Clutch takes GR’s
Orbit Room by storm

COURTESY DAN MARTENSEN

Tunnel vision: The eclectic trio takes listeners on an intergalactic ride with a
luminous ending.
By Carly Plank
The Saint Reporter
Mosquito, the fourth studio album by pop-punk trio the Yeah Yeah
Yeahs, is the band’s most cohesive
and understated effort to date. The
textures and emotions of a search
for identity within the labyrinthine
world of the New York underground
give way to dreamy, escapist themes
voiced by the inimitable and always
intense Karen O. Although the album has its share of low points, a
band with a unique vision shines
through the darkness.
“Sacrilege,” the album opener,
is an exquisitely produced rocker
infused with the energy of a gospel choir. The song’s subject matter stands in ironic juxtaposition to
the religious fervor of church singers glorifying the immediacy of sin
and the curious ability of struggle
to infuse lost souls with life. The
Yeah Yeah Yeahs’ ode to all things
unholy builds powerfully and ends
with the final breath of voices in the
choir. While listeners will surely be
baited and hooked by the ambitious
track, the rest of the album fails to
reach the standards it sets, although
several subsequent tracks are not far
from the mark.
“Subway” is a poignant reminder that life in the city is not always
filled with human companionship.
The song opens and closes with the
rhythm of subway cars while the
central character contemplates her
identity. The lyric “Caught my reflection in the subway car/ Thought,
look at you, whoever you are,” the
album’s most insightful, sets the
tone for the rest of the journey.
Underground travels border on
monotonous until nearly halfway

through the album with “Area 52,”
signaling a shift in mood and location. Suddenly soaring above the
American West and contemplating
aliens, the band finds their groove
again with catchy rhymes and energetic guitar riffs. But regardless of
a promising introduction and imagery reminiscent of an old science
fiction flick, the song begins to drag
and continues about two minutes
beyond the reasonable attention
span of a listener.
Although the middle songs
quickly become repetitive and lyrically bland, there is light at the end
of the tunnel, in the form of two
pseudo-ballads rich in lyrical description and lush instrumentation.
“Despair,” a surprisingly uplifting
ode to the powers of dark emotions,
showcases Karen O’s triumphant
vocals to the heartbeat of ambient
drums and shimmering guitars.
“Wedding Song,” a lyrical triumph,
ends the record by fusing heaven
and hell, proclaiming “In flames I
sleep soundly/ With angels around
me.”
Despite
trudging
through
the depths of a city for an annoying amount of time, the Yeah Yeah
Yeahs manage to redeem themselves
on the basis of an artistic statement.
By molding a distinct atmosphere,
themes laid out in the first few
tracks are carried through to the final words with a lyrical coherence
should not be taken for granted.
Whether Mosquito reveals the
band’s vision of New York, an alternative America, or simply the emotional trip of a soul in the city, the
album captures the beauty of lonesome strife.

COURTESY TODD OWYOUNG

Passion: Lead vocalist Neil Fallon belting out glorious lyrics like a true rock vet.
By Spencer Wilczewski
The Saint Reporter
On Saturday, April 13, the Orbit
Room was aurally transfixed by the
grooving thrash of Clutch as they
ripped through Grand Rapids on the
Earth Rocker Tour. The night was
filled with great performances from
some of the finest stoner/southern
rock bands to grace the stage of the
Orbit Room in a long time. With solid sets from Lionize, Orange Goblin
and Clutch, it is no wonder the show
was sold out.
The thing about a Clutch show
is they draw in fans from all walks
of life due to their extremely diverse
sound because they really do have
something for everyone. Clutch’s set
started out with the pulsating bass
line of “Big News I,” a classic track
from their self-titled album. Immediately, it was clear that this was going to be a high energy set. Vocalist Neil Fallon paced the stage like
a man possessed, arms flailing in a
fury as he shouted out lyrics seething with political criticism and pure
heartfelt emotion.
Everyone in the crowd was
transfixed by the music. Tim Sult’s
guitar lines seared through the
speakers, ranging from funky wah
driven riffs to straight up thrash.
Clutch kept fans happy by playing
songs from nearly every album. It
was truly an insane set that lasted
over an hour.
“Crucial Velocity” and “Earth
Rocker ” were also played with uncanny precision. It seemed everyone was cracking a beer and singing
along when they busted into “Elec-

tric Worry,” which was clearly one
of many fan favorites. There wasn’t
a dull moment during their entire
set.
Orange Goblin, from the United
Kingdom, gave a valiant set that
consisted of straight up stoner jams.
Though the crowd was a little hesitant receiving their sound at first,
you could tell as it progressed everyone seemed to warm up to their
uniquely grungy tone. Overall, they
put on a solid set that gained them
at least one new fan.
Lionize’s set was also very impressive. Their music is fantastic: a
unique blend of Black Sabbath riffing meets Sublime’s reggae jams. It
was great to see a band embrace the
jam sound, and to see fans get into
a 10 minute long instrumental. The
high point of their set was “Dr. Livingston,” a track that truly encapsulates Lionize’s sound, complete
with brooding organ lines and an
extremely catchy chorus.
Nate Bergman and Henry Upton’s vocal delivery was great. Their
voices complement each other in a
way that only further enhanced the
dynamics of their set. It was a phenomenal night of music, and an allaround good time.
If you missed this show, you
missed out big time. It would be
well worth it to check out Clutch’s
upcoming shows, because no other
band come in comparison to their
live performances.

Hotel Cassiopeia 42 scores a home run
A fantastic visual
spectacle
By Paris Close
Culture Editor
Walking into Aquinas College’s
Circle Theatre on Saturday, April
20, was perhaps the best and most
memorable decision I’ve made this
semester thus far. I had the pleasure
of attending the redolent, dreamlike spectacle Hotel Cassiopeia this
weekend and I’m immensely grateful I did.
I was both patient and inquisitive while reading the first line of
the Director ’s Notes from the play’s
brochure: “The play you are about
to see is strange.”
Together, we are woven by
the same string of curiosity which
brought us here.
Cassiopeia immediately grabs
hold of you, unraveling the bittersweet, serpentine existence of
American artist Joseph Cornell
(Kyle McCrumb) whose inquietude
steers audiences through his rather
peculiar visions.
The production, written by
Charles Mee and directed by Randy
Wyatt, delicately demonstrates the
capacity of dreams, memories and
fears. And while the beautiful minimalist set captured much of the unearthly essence of moonshine and
starlight shimmer, the most dazzling feature of the performance
was, in fact, it’s awesome array of
characters.
The sagacious specialists: the
Astronomer (Chris Skurka), Herbalist (Jason DeJager) and Pharmacist
(Stephen Wright) were without a
doubt an entertaining trio with undying chemistry.
The ballerina triad who gave an
enchanted recital were especially
delightful, more notably, the Singing Ballerina’s (Marisa Purcey) carefully controlled caroling.

Characters like the Poet (Emily
Blakowski) and Ticket Girl (Kelli
Burns) were appealing and their periodic appearances kept the play at a
familiar pace.
AQ’s Cassiopeia was meticulously constructed. I thoroughly enjoyed
the silhouetted scene transitions, the
incredible bubble show and those
silver screen flashbacks to timeless
1940s classics like To Have and Have
Not because it only added to the
play’s wonderful nature.
While some may become impatient with this play, believe me when
I tell you, it is well worth your money and especially your time.
For having taken on such an
extremely difficult role of a jittery,
socially inept character like Cornell, McCrumb does an astounding
job with his remarkable portrayal.
The entire cast is an assemblage of
skilled, well-trained actors and actresses. Their performance demonstrates just how naturally each character gravitates towards the other in
a rather uncanny way.
The play is indisputably strange
and that is the core of its effervescence. A play should stimulate the
spectator ’s mind, drawing emotion
from every angle. Cassiopeia does
both of these things flawlessly and
effortlessly.
You find yourself at ease with
the calming hymns of the elegant
ballerinas, smacking your knee caps
at the ever so witty Astronomer and
weeping with both sorrow and joy
at the expense of Cornell’s fantasy
coming to its close.
The play is pays homage to love,
loss and dreams unfurled. Above all
things, Cassiopeia is tragically beautiful, like clutching a handful of
gold then feeling it vanish between
your fingers.
Culture Editor Paris Close

COURTESY WARNER BROS

Honoring legends: Warner Bros.’s latest bio-pic pays tribute to the groundbreaking Jackie Robinson.
By Joe Foldenauer
The Saint Reporter
If you’re in the mood for a feelgood, successful American dream
story, 42 is just that. 42 is about
Jackie Robinson breaking color barriers by becoming the first AfricanAmerican to play for an MLB team
in 1947. Unlike its original, The Jackie Robinson Story, this film focuses
mainly on Robinson’s life from 194547.
Newcomer Chadwick Boseman
plays Jackie Robinson and proves to
be a great actor by showing Robinson’s true athleticism and emotional
struggle with many of the Dodgers
players and competition.
Harrison Ford plays the religious and capitalist Dodgers executive, Branch Rickey. Rickey is
a Methodist who often quotes the

E-mail saint.editors@aquinas.edu

Bible and believes players, whether
black or white, bring in dollars that
are still green, which is the one reasons he insisted Robinson sign for
the Dodgers.
What this film does is plainly
depict the uglier side of America
many of us have only heard of but
never experienced.
Racism and segregation at this
time were prevalent problems in
America and Jackie Robinson was
one of many African-Americans
responsible for the end of many of
these barriers. His wife Rae (played
by Nicole Beharie) grew up on the
West Coast, and was previously
never exposed to the amount of
harsh segregation in public arenas.
Many of the fellow players on
the team had a hard time deciding
how they felt about Robinson. Some
wanted the player gone, some en-

Phone (616) 632-2975

Website www.aquinas.edu/thesaint

joyed him being on the team but a
majority did not know what to think
of having Robinson as their teammate.
Pee Wee Reese (played by Lucas Black from Friday Night Lights)
is one of the few who acknowledged
all the hard work Robinson had done
and what he’d gone through and offers Robinson to stay with them.
All in all, this movie was very
entertaining and inspiring to watch.
Harrison Ford gives one of his best
performances since the ‘90s.
Once the movie is over you will
want to go out and play a game of
baseball with your friends. For a
feel-good family friendly film, you
cannot go wrong with 42.

sports

page

7

THE SAINT | WEDNESDAY, APRIL 24, 2013

Chicago Blackhawks: Duncan
Keith in trouble

Soccer: Player punches referee in
the face

Grand Rapids Griffins: Beating out
the competition

Duncan Keith was accused of sexism as
he made rude comments to reporter Karen
Thomsen after the Blackhawks’ 3-1 loss against
the Vancouver Canucks on Monday night.
Keith was bitter with the loss and was making
inappropriate and rude remarks to Thomsen.

In the Indonesia Premier Soccer Leagues
this past Sunday, Persiwa soccer player
Pieter Rumaropen was so upset with a call
against his team that he laid a left hook on
the referee’s face. The game was held up for
ten minutes as the referee recovered.

The Grand Rapids Griﬃns have had quite
the season. The Griﬃns are ranked number
one in the Midwest Division with an overall
record of 42-26. The Griﬃns have two games
left against the Houston Aeros. The Griﬃns
could win big with the success of these next
two games.

Finishing Strong

<<

WHAT TO WATCH

>> TRACK AND FIELD

The Aquinas men and women’s track and
ﬁeld teams have had a successful indoor and
outdoor season. Taking top places in events
such as the long jump, pole vault and 4 by 800
relay, the Saints are pushing the boundaries and
improving with every meet. Their next meet is
Saturday, April 27.

Detroit Red
Wings

End of season draws near
By Hillary Najor
The Saint Reporter

COURTESY ANDRIS VISOCKIS

Safe: Senior Renae Tubergen slides into third base in home ﬁeld action this season.
By Taylor Hodges
The Saint Reporter
The Aquinas women’s softball
team has had an impressive season
despite the unfavorable weather.
With an overall record of 17-12 and
a conference record of 3-3, the team
hopes their confidence will sustain
them heading into the remainder of
the season. While the rain caused
problems in West Michigan and delays for the team, they are not letting it put a damper on their season.
“This season has been very
stressful and at times a bit sad.
However, we have not nor will we
be shaken,” said senior Renae Tu-

Roundbowl
Classic
returns

bergen. “It has only made us a more
technical and better team. We don’t
take a single play in each game for
granted because we have had 22
games cancelled.”
Twenty-two games is quite
a large number when it comes to
cancelled games in a single season.
Tthe team, however, is finding other
ways to improve their game on the
field while also having some fun off
the field.
“With all of the indoor practices, we have been able to refine and
perfect our swings in the cages,”
said Tubergen. “Since we never play,
our team could beat anyone in euchre. It’s a daily thing for us.” With

The Red Wings are on the brink
of missing the playoffs for the first
time in 22 years having a 3-5-2 record in the last 10 games, with a current 10th place ranking.
On Thursday, April 11, the
Wings played a close game against
the San Jose Sharks. The Sharks
would score in the first period, but
the Wings came back in the second
to tie it up.
Both teams scored in the third,
which lead to play in over time. With
neither team scoring in over time, a
shoot out was played to decide the
game. In the end, the Sharks were
victorious with a final score of 3-2.
Then the Wings went on to play
the Chicago Blackhawks on April 12
hoping to redeem themselves from
the night before and to make up for
their previous embarrassing loss to
the Blackhawks.
Lots of action happened in the
second period, with the Blackhawks

scoring once, and the Wings scoring
twice. The Blackhawks would score
in the third leading to similar events
from the previous night, overtime
and a shootout. The Wings again
would end up losing 3-2.
From there, the Wings went on
to play the Nashville Predators on
April 14. The Wings got this much
needed win with a score of 3-0. Jimmy Howard received his third shutout of the season.
After a few days of rest, the
Wings went on to play the Calgary
Flames. The Wings were down after
one period, but eventually tied it up
in the second.
In the third, the Flames bounced
back with two goals. The Wings
scored at the end of the third, but
their momentum did not last. The
Wings ended up losing 3-2.
The Wings only have four
games left to push for a playoff spot
amongst many other teams who are
vying for that coveted playoff spot.

Aquinas Tennis

the impressive talent of euchre players on the team, they’ve managed to
transfer that talent on the field. “We
swept Olivet Nazarene University
who was ranked seventh in the nation,” said Tubergen. “It definitely
put Aquinas on the radar.”
With six games left in the regular season before the WHAC tournament in the start of May, the team
is looking to not only play some
games but win them so they can reestablish their momentum heading
into the tournament The Saints will
play on April 28 at 11 a.m. against
Kalamazoo College.

Both teams look to
impress as playoffs
near

A rough start
Detroit Tigers look to gain momentum after lackluster open
lander, coming back from a 7-0 lost
against the Yankees, had six strikeouts
and a low earned run average of 1.96.
Scoring home-runs in that game were
Torii Hunter, Fielder, and Peralta.
Sanchez had a 10-1 victory over
Oakland as well. Allowing for only one
run and four walks, Sanchez was able
to strike out eight of the 28 players he
faced. Scoring the only home-run for the
Tigers was Austin Jackson in the second
inning.

alyssa frese |sports editor

By Joe Foldenauer
The Saint Reporter

This Friday, a sporting event
will be occurring on campus that has
not been held for over two decades.
The Roundbowl Classic used to be
one of the biggest sporting events of
the year. The game was a throwdown
between the men of St. Joe’s and Regina, the two first year residence
halls. This tradition was rediscovered by junior Ian MacNeil when he
was browsing through an old Aquinas yearbook. MacNeil and junior
Joe Broderick decided to co-plan this
event to facilitate participation from
both residence halls.
This year’s Roundbowl Classic games will be played on Friday,
April 26, with the girls beginning at
6 p.m. and the boys at 7 p.m. Women’s basketball Head Coach Linda
Nash, Campus Safety Lieutenant Officer Mark McCann and Director of
Campus Safety Kevin Kwiatkowski
will be refereeing. This event could
mark the beginning of a rekindled
tradition for many years to come.
With coaching assistance from
Aquinas basketball player seniors
Clare Conway and Brett Pfahler,
competition will be high between
both teams as residents from both
halls will be participating in this oldschool competition.
The Roundbowl Classic was
played when Dean Brian Matzke
was an Aquinas student. Comparing
it from then to now should be quite
the transition. Back then it was an
annual event and now the Classic is
being resurrected after 20 years.
This fun competition is a great
way to get a variety of residents,
both athletes and non-athletes to
bond and compete to have bragging
rights over a rival residence hall.

The Tigers have hit a small slump
as we move further into the MLB season. Currently they are ranked second
in the AL central standings, but after a
10-0 loss last Saturday against the Los
Angeles Angels, that standing no longer
remains.
Justin Verlander has not performed
as well as Tigers fans would have hoped.
Right now he has
a 2-2 record, allowed for 23 hits,
six runs and one
home run. However, Verlander
has struck out 29
batters.
If Verlander
is going to live
up to his new
contract he is
going to need
to step it up. On
a higher note,
Miguel Cabrera
is having an impressive season,
having 25 hits,
two home runs,
COURTESY SD DIRK
and 18 RBIs.
Over the last Winding up: Tiger’s fan favorite pitcher Justin Verlander has
few weeks there started the season with a 2-2 record.
have been a few
big highlights. First on the list would be
Lately the Tigers have not been
pitcher Doug Fister’s 11-1 victory over playing as well. As of Saturday, Detroit
the Toronto Blue Jays. Fister pitched has a three game losing streak losing
eight innings, struck out ﬁve players, against the Seattle Mariners in their ﬁnal
and allowed for only one earned run. game and having lost all games to this
Also during that game helping get the point in their series against the Angels.
11 runs needed were Cabrera, Prince
In the Seattle game, Verlander was
Fielder, Jhonny Peralta, Omar Infante, able to strike an impressive 12 people
and Austin Jackson.
out, but was not able to prevent nine
Three days later in California, Ver- runs from occurring. With more games
lander had a nice 7-3 win against the and practice, anything is possible this
Oakland Athletics which would start a season for Detroit.
four game win streak for Detroit. VerSports Editor Alyssa Frese

E-mail saint.editors@aquinas.edu

COURTESY ANDRIS VISOCKIS

Fire back: Junior Aaron Hendrick returns the ball to his opponent in home court
action at Orchard Hills this season.
By Taylor Hodges
The Saint Reporter
With the tennis season winding
to a close, the men’s team is riding
high on a 14 match win streak. After
recently concluding their last regular season match against Kalamazoo,
in which they won 8-1, the team is in
good shape heading into the NAIA
Regionals and the NAIA National
Championships.
With two seniors showing tremendous leadership skills along
with match play, it comes as no surprise that the team is feeling confident heading into playoffs. Senior
Kyle Masteller has been sensational
this season, going 4-0 in the WHAC
and 18-3 overall in singles. In the
doubles area, Masteller is finding
the same success being partnered
with freshmann Kristoff Saari as the
tandem has an overall record of 10-4.
Senior Michael Sendor has
chipped in with an overall singles
record of 4-3 and 1-3 doubles record
to help the Saints to an overall record
of 20-4. The freshmen have made
quite an impact on the men’s tennis
team and have gone for a combined
singles record of 53-12.
Leading the freshmen charge
with 19 wins is Saari, who has been
phenomenal this season. Not far behind him are fellow freshmen Andy

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Website www.aquinas.edu/thesaint

Struble and Frankie Fischer, with 17
wins. Already winning the WHAC
championship, there is no reason to
doubt the team’s ability to go far in
the national tournament.
The women’s team has had
similar success, going 11-9 overall
facing top tier teams. Currently on
a roll after beating rival school Cornerstone 9-0, the team is now looking in the direction of the NAIA Regional Tournament.
Leading the charge is junior
Lauren Ramey, who has an impressive singles record of 11-5 overall
and has gone undefeated in conference play going 3-0. That record has
carried over into doubles, where
Ramey and freshman partner Rilie
DuShane have gone 7-4 overall.
Also contributing to the success
of the team are freshman Marjeanne
Bothma and sophomore Ariana
Kabodian, who have an impressive doubles record of 10-6 overall. While there are no graduating
seniors this year, the team has had
strong leadership from junior Lauren Ramey, which is going to be important heading into the NAIA Regional tournament.

8

SPORTS

THE SAINT |WEDNESDAY, APRIL 24, 2013

Senior Carlie Giarmo
stays motivated and focused
on the games ahead

Aquinas men’s
lacrosse
Saints determined to
finish strong

COURTESY ANDRIS VISOCKIS

Never back down: Senior Carlie Giarmo pitches in actions for the Saints this season. Giarmo graduates this year with dual
major in Political Science and Business Administration.
By Brian Kalchik
The Saint Reporter
Initially going into college, senior
Carlie Giarmo was hesitant about
playing softball at the collegiate level, but after some try-outs at various
colleges, Giarmo decided to join the
Aquinas Saints.
“After getting to tryouts and talking with Crystal Laska [Aquinas’
head coach], I knew that Aquinas
was the best ﬁt for me, both in the
classroom and on the diamond,” said
Giarmo. Coach Laska has had a huge
inﬂuence on Giarmo’s career. Giarmo
notes Laska as one of the main reasons she decided to join the softball
team at Aquinas.
“The ﬁrst time I met Carlie I knew
that she was going to be successful
in whatever she chose to pursue. She
is a strong, independent and ﬁercely
loyal person,” said Laska. “These
qualities make her an exceptional
college pitcher. In four years she has
put up amazing numbers and continues to set higher goals for herself to
achieve.”
Giarmo loved that Aquinas was
a small and tight knit community
where everybody knows everybody.
“I love the small community experi-

ence, getting to know faculty, staﬀ
and other students,” said Giarmo.
Giarmo will be graduating this
May with a double major in Business
Administration and Political Science.
Giarmo has accepted a job in Detroit
at Quicken Loans to learn how to become a mortgage broker. In her time
at Aquinas, Giarmo is known for her
positive attitude and hard work ethic.
She has maintained a job working at
the Sturrus Sports and Fitness Center.
“Carlie began working in the athletics oﬃce in the summer of 2012. She
has been a large part of the success for
day to day operations in the Athletic
oﬃce as well as with event management,” said Sturrus Building Manager Annie Skukalek. “She was always
my go-to gal during basketball season
as I could always heavily rely on her
to help with anything that I needed.
Her upbeat and friendly personality
made the oﬃce environment positive
on a daily basis.”
Giarmo has many accomplishments
that she has achieved over her four
years at Aquinas. Giarmo was the
Student of the Month for November
2012 for her service during the winter holidays, according to her November 2012 proﬁle. Giarmo is also a
Red Cross representative who was re-

sponsible for spearheading the Aquinas Athletic Red Cross Blood drive,
which collected 40 pints of blood earlier this year.
Giarmo’s favorite memories during
her softball career are not of any particular game or moment, but the relationships that have been built within
each season. “Every year, memories
were created when bonding with new
teammates; it feels like having a new
family every year,” said Giarmo.
Junior teammate Ashley Milheim
feels that Carlie’s humor both on and
oﬀ the ﬁeld really help the team settle
down when there are some nerves.
“Carlie can take the pressure during
a game… she will make a joke that
has everyone shaking their heads and
smiling, oﬀ the ﬁeld she has a good
balance between having a humorous
side and a serious side,” said Milheim.
Despite the amount of games that
the Saints have missed due to Mother
Nature, Giarmo still believes that the
Saints have what it takes to win the
conference. “We have a lot of games
in just a few days, but if we concentrate and play like we should, there is
no reason to think why we can’t win
the conference,” said Giarmo.

Aquinas Women’s lacrosse
take third place
Baseball The Saints
at Nationals
By Taylor Hodges
The Saint Reporter
The Aquinas men’s baseball
team has had an outstanding season. Sporting an impressive overall record of 19-12 and 10-5 record
in the WHAC, despite having most
games cancelled, has given the team
confidence heading into the remainder of the season. “The most important games are ahead of us, and if
we perform like we are capable we
will be in good shape,” said head
coach Doug Greenslate. “Our expectations are high to finish strong and
make a run at winning the conference tournament.”
The senior leadership has been
important during this season, which
includes a lot of rained out games
and only one outdoor practice. “The
weather has impacted college baseball more this spring than I have
seen in over 30 years,” said Greenslate. “We have a veteran team with
very good senior leadership, so I
think our guys will perform up to
their capabilities.”
The pitching has been spotty at
times this season even though the
team has many talented pitchers.
“We have hit a rough patch here recently with winning games due to
inconsistent pitching, and lack of
timely hitting,” said Greenslate. “ It
has been hard for pitchers to establish rhythm and consistency because
of the wind and cold weather.”
With upcoming games against
Cornerstone and Siena Heights,
the team will look to have a strong
showing in hopes of making the
conference tournament.

COURTESY ANDRIS VISOCKIS

Looking for the pass: Sophomore Alexa Burns looks to pass the ball while sophomore Haley Jacob looks on .
By Alyssa Frese
Sports Editor
This past week while Grand
Rapids was getting pelted by rain
and unfortunate weather, the Aquinas women’s lacrosse team traveled
to St. Louis, Missouri to play in National Women’s Lacrosse League
Tournament. The Saints played
three games while in St. Louis. On
April 18, they beat Midland 19-12 in
the quarterfinals. The next day, the
Saints played a hard match against
SCAD which resulted in a 15-10 loss
for the Saints.
This did not discourage them as
the Saints came out the next day hungrier than ever for a final win. With
a final victory of 22-12 over Robert
Morris, the Saints were able to take
home third place in the NWLL Tournament. This was a great way to end
Sports Editor Alyssa Frese

a well-played season for the Saints.
“The team played great, we really started playing as a whole instead of individuals. Third place is
great, but I feel that we could have
won it all,” said junior Alisa Skluzacek. “At Nationals I realized how
much this team is my family, and
how all the girls are a huge part of
my life. I am truly going to miss the
seniors next year.”
The Saints finished the season
with an impressive record 14-6, going 4-2 in the WHAC conference.
With only four seniors graduating,
anything is possible for the Saints
next season
“Even though we did not end
with the result planned for, we still
played well as a team overall,” said
junior Bailey Terebinski. “It was
great to send off our seniors with a
win.”

By Hanna Dugan
The Saint Reporter
The Aquinas College Men’s Lacrosse team has had a challenging
season. For this young team, the
year has a learning experience. The
team is composed mostly of freshman and sophomores with only a
single graduating senior, Connor
Sutton. The Saints were led by Head
Coach Luke Griemsman and Assistant Coach Doug Seites. Between the
two of them, there is an obvious love
for the sport. This same love is evident in the players as well.
One such player is freshman attack and offensive mid-fielder Ryan
Ruschmann. Ruschmann has been
playing lacrosse for 10 years and
has an obvious passion for the sport.
When asked to evaluate AQLAX as
program, he identified their strength
as being their athleticism.
He stated, “Even though our
passing and catching skills may not
always be there, we tend to always
have more athletic ability than our
competition.” He also gives great
credit to Jimmy Watt, “our goal
keeper. He is very skilled at his position. As a captain he is a very vocal
leader. He can tell the defense who’s
hot and who’s cold.” This vocal ability is something that Seites emphasized as being crucial to a strong
defense.
When examining this year ’s defense, Seites admitted that AQ “defense is our stronger point so far as
a program. We are still really young
defensively and this can cause headaches now, but will be an advantage
later.”
One standout defensive player
this season has been freshman Austin Phillips. Seites described him as
“a good athlete who’s already got
the physical side. As he has been
playing this season he has slowly
figured out the mental game.” His
teammates and coaches all agree
that he will be a rock for the defense
in the years to come.
Phillips, who has also been playing lacrosse for 10 years, described
the season as “a rollercoaster. There
were obvious disappointments, but
it was a good season.” He notes
that the biggest of those disappointments was the team’s second loss to
Indiana Tech.
Phillips believes the loss is the
result of making basic mistakes,
something that Griemsman would
agree with. He admits that most of
their struggles “come from not having players grounded in strong fundamentals.” Griemsman recognizes
that a large percentage of the team
started playing lacrosse later in life
and are still cultivating those skills.
But that does not mean anyone
should count the Aquinas lacrosse

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Website www.aquinas.edu/thesaint

team out. Amongst this group of
young men, there is enormous potential for success. In fact, Seites
suggests that this class of freshman
might be the best Aquinas has seen
since the outset of the program.
The freshmen class is strong, diverse and commanding. However,
one would be remiss in failing to
mentioning players like Tim Hansen
and Connor Sutton. These are young
men who approach everything with
a “game seven” mentality, in not
only games, but practice as well.
Sutton, the team’s only graduating
senior, brought heart to the team
that will be missed. Phillips notes
that “his attitude, even in practice,
will be missed. It motivates all of
us.” He also believes that emulating
Sutton’s attitude will lead to more
AQ victories.
Ruschmann similarly pointed
out that Sutton was a player who
“went hard every day. It didn’t matter if it was raining, snowing or
beautiful outside. He was consistent.” Sutton is what one coach described as the ideal lacrosse player
as far as dedication and character
are concerned. Griemsman said of
Sutton, “He was a pleasure to coach.
There was never a cool or negative
attitude.”
In looking to Sutton’s example,
the team will learn some of the focus
the Ruschmann believes they lack at
the moment. Potential players who
could step up and fill that gap upon
his graduation are Jimmy Watt and
Hunter Perry.
With such a young and strong
team, the future of AQ lacrosse is
bright. There is a desire to win, a desire to be great and a desire to represent the school with integrity and
strength. Seites points out that “even
when we’ve ended up on the wrong
end of the scoreboard, I never see a
guy give up in a game.”
Looking to the future of Aquinas lacrosse, there is great and obvious potential. Phillips noted his passions for Aquinas lacrosse, “I play
because I love the sport, because
there is potential here, and because I
want to build a powerhouse. I could
have played somewhere else and sat
on the bench for a few years, with
little playing time. But here, as a
strong freshman class, we could be
the team that starts it all. As a team,
we could be the ones that take the
program to the top. We can have an
impact here.”
With most of the team returning, the Saints are looking forward
to another great season next year.